Smart watching: National Geographic’s Best Documentaries

The National Geographic channel features documentaries that are educational, fun, and mentally challenging for audiences. Here are some of National Geographic’s best releases that will blow your mind away:

Inside 9/11 This documentary focuses on the shocking terror attacks that killed thousands of people in New York on 11 September 2001. The documentary investigates Al Qaeda’s strategies for attacks that remain de rigueur among terrorist cells, according to security and intelligence experts.

The Human Body This documentary shows what happens inside the human body on a daily basis. It is one of the best National Geographic releases, and is regularly shown to students who are taking up general sciences and anatomy courses.

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The Wildest DreamThe Wildest Dream tells the story of the first man who attempted to climb Mt. Everest, and the mountaineer who found his remains after 75 years.

Inside the Vatican This documentary gives us access to one of the world’s most sacred settings. It also showcases interviews with people who got to work with Pope John Paul II. Get to know more about the political world of religion when you see this film.

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RestrepoThis award-winning documentary film focuses on the lives of a US military platoon based in Afghanistan. It shows the stress and terror military men face day-to-day, and the intelligence needed to survive a war.

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In frame: The world through the National Geographic lens

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Inspired by the magazines published by the National Geographic Society, the National Geographic specials are the archetypical documentary, the most recognizable of its type throughout mid to late 20th Century and remaining a prominent staple for the opening years of the 21st.

Since 1965, its recognizable fanfare and introductory sequence had beckoned young learners and information enthusiasts to the wonders of zoology, ecology, botany, anthropology, geography, and history. It combines stunning cinematography, high definition video and in-depth research to bring to light a compelling and complex portrait of its subject matter, be it natural or artificial.

The National Geographic Specials have sometimes been presented by known individuals. Over the years, the specials have been hosted by several noteworthy personalities, ranging from renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough to veteran comic actor Leslie Nielsen.

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Although the specials cover a broad range of topics, ranging from human anatomy to current events, the most recognizable of them is wildlife. Fitting with the National Geographic Society's longstanding theme of scientific exploration, a good portion of the specials revolves around animal behaviors in nature.

This can bring the viewer to the depths of the Amazon rainforest in South America to the wide expanses of the plains of the African Savannah. Not a few of them follow the hosts as they trek across magnificent landscapes and breathtaking vistas. In some occasions, this can even hit the viewers close to home, as the presenter explores the hidden majesty that takes place within their own backyards.

John Covington's broad range of interests includes watching nonfiction programs from National Geographic and The History Channel. For more updates on this and other interests, visit this blog.